Welshpool’s long wait for funding to provide a vital renal dialysis service looks to be over.
With a permanent unit expected in two years, the Welsh Assembly Government is providing £218,000 to Betsi Cadwaladr University and Powys Teaching Health Boards to get equipment for a new temporary unit at the Victoria Memorial Hospital.
Campaigners have welcomed the news with open arms.
Trudy Hill has been involved in the campaign for more than 10 years and is Chair of the Kidney Wales Foundation Powys Committee which has Glyn Davies MP as its secretary.
“I am thrilled, having been involved in the campaign for 10 years,” she said. “It’s been a long time coming but finally we’re moving forward. It will make life a lot easier for North Powys dialysis patients who will have their travelling time considerably reduced, and so free time and improve their quality of life.”
It means local patients will no longer face lengthy journeys across the border for treatement with the temporary facility also having the capacity to cope with an expected growth in demand.
Chris Mann, Chairman of Powys Teaching Local Health Board, said: “I am delighted that patients from north Powys will soon be able to access dialysis facilities within the county. This is a truly exciting development and one which I know will be welcomed wholeheartedly.”